Saint Mother Teresa - Holiness in Darkness

Mother Teresa was a modern Saint known for her "call within the call" and her care of the extremely poor. In the second half of her life, she had a hidden, heroic dimension of holiness that few knew about.

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta originally discerned her vocation in her homeland of Macedonia. At the young age of 12, she knew she wanted to be a nun. She joined the Irish order, Sisters of Loreto, and was sent as a missionary to India in 1928. From 1931 to 1948, Teresa was a Catholic high school teacher in Calcutta, India. She taught geography, history, and catechism. Eventually, she became the principal of the school.

When she worked at the School she would visit the slums and the people suffering nearby. These experiences were the foundation for her "call within the call." Teresa had her vocation as a nun, however, on a train ride in 1946, she had a deep longing to serve the city's sickest and poorest people. She left the school to form the order dedicated to this new mission. The new order was to be named the "Missionaries of Charity." Teresa and her sisters lived as the poor did and adopted the clothing of those they served. The iconic white sari with the blue border that Teresa wore as her habit, is something the poorest women in the region would wear.

Mother Teresa is most well known for her care of the extremely poor. In the most destitute areas of Calcutta, India she sought out suffering and brought them to Jesus. In 1950 her "Missionaries of Charity" was official and they carried out their mission. The goal of the order was to serve and live with the poor. They aimed to treat the poor with empathy, compassion, and kindness. The Missionaries of Charity never pitied those they served. Mother Teresa and her order built schools, orphanages, nursing homes, and hospices. In 1965, the Missionaries of Charity expanded internationally and now serve 90 countries. 

As Teresa's cause for sainthood was being investigated, many began to read her personal writings. Some were scandalized because it became clear that she had felt completely abandoned by God for the last half-century of her life. People claimed that she lost her faith. Atheists rejoiced, and sisters from her order were bewildered. However, what became clear is that Mother Teresa went through a form of spiritual development called "The Dark Night of the Soul." Here is how The Young Catholic Woman Explains it (with some help from Fr. Mike Schmitz):

The Dark Night of the Soul

The dark night of the soul is a state where consolation is gone everywhere, not just spiritually. There is no sight of God and a person perceives that there is no hope and no heaven. Yet, they choose God even if they begin to feel and think that He isn’t there or doesn’t exist. Here comes the point where one chooses God for Himself, not for what He does for us. 

Much like what Saint John of the Cross experienced, Teresa needed to be "emptied" to allow for the infilling of God. Faith is more than a good feeling, it requires a "yes" to the Lord even in the moments that he seems absent.  Mother Teresa KNEW that God was there, even though she didn't experience him in the very tangible way that she had earlier in her life. She did this with joy and continued to serve God's children until her death.

Mother Teresa was beautified in 2003 a mere 7 years after her death in 1997.  She became a Saint in 2016 when she interceded for the complete healing of a Brazilian man who suffered from a brain infection. Teresa will be known for her willingness to offer charity to anyone. She not only served the materially poor but the spiritually poor as well. She spoke in the United States and called the country "poorer than the rest of the world" for their embrace of abortion and contraception.  Mother Teresa served the poorest of the poor but encouraged people start by finding ways to serve those around them. There are three ways we can emulate Mother Teresa's love:

• Challenge yourself to be compassionate: make a conscious effort to practice kindness with those around you.
• Serve others: Anticipate other people's needs and then help out. Remember, time is a valuable resource and one of the best things a person can do is to help another person out of isolation or loneliness.
• Start close to home: Mother Teresa called the "backyard" the "primary mission field." Helping others requires relationships, so why not start with those you already know?

Heavenly Father,

We come to you today inspired by the life and teachings of Saint Mother Teresa. We are grateful for her unwavering commitment to serving you in the poor and the needy, and for her belief that love and compassion are the cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness.

Help us to practice compassion and kindness around us, and to be the living expression of your love and grace. Challenge us to help those in need, particularly the marginalized and isolated, and to be a source of hope and encouragement to those who are feeling lonely or hopeless.

Remind us to start with those closest to us, to reach out to friends, family, and neighbours in need, and to be a source of support and comfort in our everyday lives. Thank you for the gifts you pour into our lives, and for the guidance you provide through your Holy Spirit. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

Source: Diocese of Pembroke